Zarivar Lake

Zarivar lies at about 1,300 metres in a basin in the Kurdish mountains just outside Marivan, and it is unusual in the region for being fresh rather than saline: it is fed by springs rising from its own bed, which keeps the water sweet, and it drains through a small outlet. It is roughly five kilometres long and shallow, fringed with reed beds and willows, and it freezes in winter. Boats and pedalos work the shore in summer, and the surrounding meadows are used for picnics, which is the main local use. Birds are numerous in the reeds, and the lake is a Ramsar-listed wetland. The mountains around it are green in spring and the whole basin is a marked contrast to the dry country further south.

What you actually see

• Springs rising in the lake bed - the source of its fresh water.
• Reed beds and willows - the fringe around most of the shore.
• Boats and pedalos - the summer use of the water.
• Green mountain basin - a wet landscape in a largely dry region.

When to go

April to October; the lake freezes in winter, which is its own sight. Half a day. Spring and early summer are greenest. Weekends and holidays bring large numbers of picnickers.

Honest expectations

Weekend crowds and litter are a serious problem around the accessible shore. The lake has suffered from pollution and eutrophication. Facilities are basic. It is pleasant rather than dramatic, and better as a break than a destination.

Nearby

Marivan is a few kilometres east; the Hawraman valleys lie south.